ISHS Acta Horticulturae 588: II International Symposium on Cucurbits
FRUIT GROWTH AND BIOMASS ALLOCATION TO THE FRUITS IN CUCUMBER: EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITY AND ARRANGEMENT |
| Authors: | R.M. Peil, J. López-Gálvez |
| Keywords: | Cucumis sativus, dry-matter distribution, dry-matter contend, sink:source ratio, source strength, greenhouse. |
| Abstract:
Cucumber plants were grown under greenhouse conditions in Southern Spain at 1.8 and 2.3 plants m-2 and with two plants arrangements (rectangle and triangle) to analyse the effects of plant density and arrangement on fruit growth and biomass allocation to the fruits. Increasing plant density decreased the total aboveground biomass, the number of fruits and fruit biomass production per plant and enhanced the biomass allocation to the vegetative shoot organs at the expense of the fruits. The effects of increasing plant density on the decreasing growth rate of individual fruits were greater in terms of dry rather than fresh weight. Fruits were harvested when they reached a minimum fresh weight. As a result, the plant density did not affect the growing period from anthesis until harvest of the individual fruits. The dry-matter percentage of fruits and vegetative shoot parts decreased at 2.3 plants m-2. The fruit biomass production and biomass allocation to the fruits increased at triangle plant arrangement, but total and vegetative aboveground plant biomass, growth of individual fruits, dry-matter percentage and number of fruits per plant were not affected. Fruit growth and biomass allocation to the fruits are discussed in relation to the sink/source strength differences caused by plant spacing and arrangement treatments. | |
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